Album Notes and Credits

Audio Mixers: Collin Dupuis; Dan Auerbach.

Recording information: Easy Eye Sound, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Jo McCaughey.

After a decade of releasing albums through their own Infinity Cat label, brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall, better known as JEFF the Brotherhood, make the jump to Warner Bros on their seventh album, Hypnotic Nights. The album finds that magical middle ground between sugary pop and heavy rock that Weezer once dominated in the days of the Blue Album. The brothers Orrall have tightened up their sound into something thicker and more cohesive while stepping further away from the looser, more psychedelic sound of Heavy Days, and in the process have stumbled into a sound that beautifully captures the aimless days of summertime. But really, that's to be expected from an album that opens with the line, "I want a place where I can smoke meats, where I can drink and swim in the creek." That feeling carries on into "Sixpack," which will immediately speak to anyone who has ever been to a way-too-packed, small-town house party. Also of note, the Brotherhood get some help production-wise from the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, who seems willing to let the brothers find their own sound as he smoothes out the rough edges. For fans of the band, seeing a big name like Auerbach's and the Warner Bros. logo on the back of the liner notes could be a frightening prospect, especially given the long independent streak the band has maintained up until this point. Fortunately, Hypnotic Nights still delivers all of the brilliant power pop worship that we've come to love from JEFF the Brotherhood, and if the album isn't able to kick off your summer, nothing will. ~ Gregory Heaney

Artist Overview

Brothers Jake and Jamin Orral (sons of songwriter Robert Ellis-Orral) cut their teeth as teens in an early incarnation of Nashville's cult sensation '00s indie rockers Be Your Own Pet. As Jeff the Brotherhood, the Brothers Orral corral the BYOP ethos of raucous and unrestrained punk into a slightly (emphasis: slightly) more melodic frame. In 2009, the duo exploded, earning the unofficial CMJ Music Marathon "Darlings" tag with its energized and unpredictable stage show mixing the Ramones' fire, Gang of Four's post-punk irony, and Jawbox's off-rhythm guitar riffs, an unbridled spirit captured brilliantly on wax.

Professional Reviews

Billboard (p.52) - "HYPNOTIC NIGHTS consistently plays it both ways, sweetening breakneck punk tunes like 'Hypnotic Mind' with candied guitar hooks and breaking out the hotel-bar sax for 'Region of Fire,' one of several psychedelic slow jams."